WV SYMPHONY PRESENTS NINE! & THE SYMPHONY RAFFLE

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (3/19/18) – The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) continues it’s 2018-19 season on Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. with an exciting evening complete with the debut of a new piece of music, performance of NINE! and the Symphony Raffle drawing.

Music Director, Lawrence Loh, kicks off the evening by leading the Symphony and the Appalachian Children’s Choir in the performance of a special commissioned piece by America composer Gary Fry.

“We cannot wait for the stage to be filled with voices from all over the state,” said Amanda McDonald, Marketing Director. “It’s such a unique chance for the Symphony to perform with vocalists of all ages, with the first piece of the evening highlighting the Appalachian Children’s Chorus .”

Following “Appalachian Suite”, the Symphony will join Astral Artist and cellist, Gabriel Cabezas to perform the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1. Rounding out the night will be a performance of Beethoven’s classic Ninth Symphony. NINE! will feature soloists, Alexandra Loutsion, soprano, Elisabeth Baer, mezzo-soprano, Scott Ramsey, tenor, and Reginald Smith, Jr., baritone along with choruses from all over the state.

“Larry has been traveling far and wide to work with the choruses in Morgantown, Fairmont, Charleston, and Huntington,” McDonald said. “It’s such a treat to work with our own Symphony Chorus, as well as students from Marshall University, WV State University, Fairmont State University, and West Virginia University.”

Tickets for the Clay Center concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. on March 23, start at $12 and are available at wvsymphony.org or by calling 304.561.3570. The Elliot Family Foundation Symphonic Series concert is made possible by the generous support of our concert sponsors the Maier Foundation, Jim & Keith Straw, and the Cecil I. Walker Charitable Trust. The Symphony Raffle drawing will take place immeadiately following the conclusion of NINE! Tickets for the annual Raffle are $100, and ticket buyers have the chance to win the grand prize $10,000 or 14 other prizes, all while supporting the Symphony.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is West Virginia’s premier performing arts organization, presenting classical, pops, and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 79th season, the WVSO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region by providing affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program.

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WV Symphony announces James F. Dunphy Memorial Scholarship for Parkersburg-Area Students

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (2/28/19) – Instrumental students in Wood and surrounding counties are invited to apply for a locally-based scholarship that offers private music lessons with a West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) musician, invitations to WVSO rehearsals and personal interactions with Music Director Lawrence Loh.

Students in grades 8 through 11 in Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt and Wood counties are encouraged to apply online at wvsymphony.org/education. The deadline to apply is April 5, and auditions will be held Friday, May 3 in Parkersburg. Scholarship activities for the chosen student take place throughout the 2019-2020 school year. 

The Dr. James F. Dunphy Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the late James Dunphy (1930-2011), a lifelong devotee of and advocate for classical music who lived in Parkersburg for nearly 40 years. Dr. Dunphy worked as a research scientist for DuPont and studied music as a passion and hobby. 

The scholarship fund that Dunphy’s family established also supports visits by Loh to instruct students in the Wood County Strings Program, and additional educational presentations in Wood County schools.

For more information, contact Betty King at bking@wvsymphony.org.

The WVSO is West Virginia’s premier performing arts organization, presenting classical, pops, family and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 79th season, the WVSO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region by providing affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program.

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West Virginia Symphony Orchestra presents Tony DeSare: Sinatra & Beyond

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (2/05/19) – The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) hosts crooner, Tony DeSare this coming weekend, February 9-11 in Charleston, Parkersburg, and Fairmont.  

DeSare and his band will join Music Director Lawrence Loh and the Symphony for a night filled with old-school Sinatra classics like Fly Me to the Moon, The Summer Wind, Luck Be a Lady, My Way, and many more.

“We are so excited to bring Tony and his Sinatra-style music to Charleston just in time for Valentine’s Day,” said Amanda McDonald, Marketing Director for the Symphony. “It will be a perfect date night for couple’s of all ages!”

Downbeat magazine named DeSare a Rising Star Male Vocalist and critics have called DeSare “two parts Frank Sinatra and one part Billy Joel”. DeSare has three top ten Billboard jazz albums under his belt and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, the Today Show and his music has been posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei

Tickets for the Clay Center concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, start at $17 and are available at wvsymphony.org or by calling 304.561.3570. The ZMM Architects and Engineers Pops Series concert is made possible by the generous support of our concert sponsor United Bank.

Tickets for the Parkersburg concert, which begins at 3 p.m. at Blennerhassett School on Feb. 10 are $22 for adults or $10 for students, and are available at wvsop.org or by calling 304.485.4200.

The Fairmont performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Colebank Hall at Fairmont State University (FSU). Tickets for reserved seating cost $30; general-admission tickets are $20; and children and students pay $5. To order tickets, visit wvsymphony.org or call 304.367.4240.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is West Virginia’s premier performing arts organization, presenting classical, pops, family and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 79th season, the WVSO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region by providing affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program.

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